Gauteng budget fast facts

Here are the details of Finance MEC Barbara Creecy’s R108-billion Gauteng budget for 2017/18.

Health

• R3.7 billion set aside to prevent and reduce the burden of communicable diseases and implement an anti-retroviral therapy programme including projects such as the test and treat and TB screening and treatment;
• R9 billion allocated to enhance service delivery outcomes in district hospitals, community health clinics and community-based centres;
• R990 million is allocated to the EMS programme. This amount caters for EMS professionals and the provision of bursaries to employees and non-employees;
• R893.8 million has been set aside over the next three years to fund the provision of effective and efficient mental health care services in the province.

Education

• R319 million over the next three years to improve the quality of the public schooling system;
• R476.3 million to improve Grade 12 performance and to increase the bachelor pass rates;
• R586.9 million for teacher development and support initiatives to provide training on subject content etc;
• R630.9 million for Early Childhood Development;
• R1.9 billion over the next three years to roll out the E-Learning strategy.

Social Development

• R100 million is allocated for services to people with disabilities which include independent living programmes, provision of the socio-economic empowerment programmes and to increase accessibility of protective workshops services;
• R165 million over three years to provide services to poor households through food parcels and food banks;
• R456 million over three years for the school uniform project and priority will be given to those companies owned by people with disabilities and community-based cooperatives;
• R86 million over three years for the Welfare to Work programme over the medium term to move people towards sustainable livelihoods through initiatives such as skills development and stipends;
• R58 million set aside for the provision of dignity packs;
• R547 million over the next three years for the anti-substance abuse social movement, substance abuse preventative programmes and local drug action committees, expansion of substance abuse treatment centres and the replication of Centres of Excellence.

Human Settlements

The total allocation for the conditional grant amounts to R5.5 billion which will be spent as follows:

• R968 million in the Central Corridor on mega projects that include Goudrand Extension 24, Diepsloot and Cosmo City;
• An amount of R167 million from the Human Settlement Development Grant is allocated for coordinating, managing and overseeing the maintenance of the department’s immovable assets in the form of flats, hostels and vacant stands; and to provide personnel and the tools of trade needed for these activities. The allocation will also deal with the Extended Discount Benefit Scheme and the transfer of housing properties to beneficiaries.

Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation

The department will receive an additional R54 million in 2017/18; R39 million in 2018/19; and R41 million in 2019/20. These resources will assist the department towards the fulfilment of the following programmes:

• The social cohesion games
• The refurbishment of sports hubs
• Nelson Mandela race
• Learn to swim programme
• The preservation and conversion of Liliesleaf Farm into a centre of memory and heritage site.

Provincial Treasury

• R10 million in 2017/18 and 2018/19 to fund the probity audits that aim to improve transparency in government procurement processes through the Open Tender process;
• An additional R20 million in additional funds from 2017/18 to 2018/19 to continue with the supplier development and incubation programme that is aligned with the Township Economy Revitalisation programme.
• Infrastructure Development
• R256.9 million over the next three years for updating and maintaining the provincial government’s immovable asset register that will allow for future growth of the province to integrate with its infrastructure capabilities.

Share your views with us on the 2017/18 budget by sending a WhatsApp message to 079 439 5345.